Paper-box-making machine or the like



Sept. 15, ,1925. 1,553,429

' S; BERGSTEIN ET- AL PAPER BOX MAKING MACHINE OR THE LIKE Filed Oct. 8 924 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 15, 1925 1,553,429 s. BERGSTEIN ET AL PAPER BOX MAKING MACHINE OR THE LIKE Filed Oct. 1924 s Sheets-Shet 2 r "Patented Sept. '15', 192 5. r

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

smear. annesram AND ALBERT ELLSWORTH DUVALL, or mnnLETowN, OHIO, AS- srenons To THE INTERSTATE FOLDING BOX COMPANY, or umnLa own, onm.

PAPER-BOX-MAKING MACHINE OR THE LIKE.

A pplicatio'n filed October 8,1924. Serial No. 742,824.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, SAMUEL BERGSTEIN and ALBERT ELLSWORTH Dnvanmcitizens of the United States, residing at Middletown, 6 in the county of Butler and State of Qhlo, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-BoxsMaking Machines or the like, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates tospaper box making machines, having particular reference to machines of the type illustrated in a copending application for Letters Patent, Ser. No. 722,330, filed June 25, 1924, in WlllCl'l one of the joint inventors in the present case is the applicant.

Box making machines of this character are of the semi-automatic fitype, and are 2 adapted for, general use in manufacturing paper boxes in quantities, but more espe-, cially to the requirements of users of boxes in relatively smaller quantities who are enabled, by means of the simple, low-cost'ma- 95 chines, to make their own boxes, in whatever quantities required, asneeded and at lower cost thanthe same-could be obtained from manufacturers on small quantity orders. 4

To this end, the machines must be of simple construction and operation, and adaptable for making boxes of variable shapes and sizes. The boxes produced on the machines must also possess the quality of. the average product of this character.

It is also essential in these semi-automatic machines that adequate provision be made for safety of operation, this being particularly important in view of the fact that the machinesare frequently in chargeof inexperienced operators.

The objects attained in our invention,

therefore, are,first, a machine which is v simply constructed, and which can be-manufa-ctured and sold at low cost; second, a machine which is safe to operate and which can be operated with facility by the inexperienced operator; third, a machine which is adaptable for making paper boxes 60 of various shapes and sizes;. and fourth, a machine which is adapted for making paper boxes of first quality, with the foldings for shaping the boxes made accurately and all joints firmly glued' to insure the strength I and uniformity of construction required in the use of the product.

In the machine of the present invention, as in the machine which forms the subject matter of the copending application herein referred to, the glued joints of the boxes are made .under pressure to the end that the jointsare firmly knitted together, and the fibrous material of the coacting joint surfaces is caused to'intermesh to sufii-cient extent to firmly unite the parts, making 1n effect an integral portion of multiple strength of the parts glued together.

A so in the machine of the present conchine as a whole.

In the accompanying drawings, the improved machine is shown in a preferred form which serves to illustrate our invention as set forth and comprehended in the appended claims. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the machine showing a plan ofthe box, forming work head; v

Fig. 3 is. a detail side elevation of the work head;

Fig. 4= is a head; Y

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the machine; 7

Fig. 6 is a mechanism; s

Fig. 7 is a plan view ofthe box'forming block;

detail view of the box folding Fig. 8 is a sectional-view ofthe box form-.

ing block;

detail viewrof the 1 pressure struction, as in the earlier machine herein Fig. 9 is a plan view of the box forming ,block in. modified form;

Fig. 10 is an. end view of Fig. 9.

The box making machine, as here shown, .comprises a vertical, hollow column 1, having a base 2, which serves to support the operable mechanism which comprlse a rotatable work head 3, mounted on column 1 concentrically to the axisthereof;- gluing mechanism 4 for supplying an adhesive to the box blanks for forming the joints of the boxes; a pressure head 5 for completing the joints; operating shaft 6 for reciprocating the pressure head and the gluing mechanism, gearing 7 operatively connected to'the main operating shaft 6 and timed to effect a step-by-step rotation of the work head, and detail mechanisms associated with these main units of the machine which will presently be described herein indetail.

The machine may be operatively connected to any suitable source of power, as the motor 8, which as here shown is connected to a power and balance wheel 9 by reduction gearing 9* in a ratio suited to the operation of the machine,the power wheel being in turn connected by" reduction gearing 10-11, drive shaft 6 and bevel gears 1213 to a drive shaft 14, which is extended downward through column 1, and connected to gearing 7 by means of bevel gears 15-16.

.Gear 16 is connected to operate in unison with a disc or pin gear 17 and a cam 18,- the gear and cam acting to impart step-bystep movement through gears 19, 24, 25, 26 and 27 to the operating head 3,gears 26'-2 7 being bevel gears to adapt the movement to the right-angle connection with the work head, and gear 24 being supported on a pivoted arm 28 to provide for change of gearing to vary the speed of operation. v

Gear 19 has secured to its inner face a star gear 20 which coact s with parts 1718 in a Geneva-lock movement,the driving relation between the parts being accomplished by means of a pin 21in disc 17 and radial slots 23 in the star gear 20 which are adapted to be engaged successively by pin 21, cam 18 coacting successively with oppositely arranged cams 22 in the periphery of gear 20' intermediate slots 23, to bring the mechanism to a positive stop-upon each quarter turn of gear 19 and to provide a pause in the rotation of the work head upon each quarter turn thereof to enable the machine attendant to position a box blank on the work head, to align units of the work head, and to maintain the work head in a position of rest during the operation of the gluing and pressure mechanisms.

Gear 11 is mounted, by any suitable means, as the usual arrangement of tightand-loose pulleys, to run normally idle,-a treadle 29 in the base of the machine and the usual shot-bolt connection 29 being employed to effect operating relation between the gear and shaft 6.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the work head of the machine comprises four radial arms 32 and four units of box supporting mechanism 30, each unit consisting of a base 31 which is adapted to have a portion of the 7 box, as an end to be folded and glued, positioned thereon by the attendant operator,' spring clips 33 being arrange on opposite sides of the bases to retain the boxes in position thereon by frictional engagement, duringthe gluing and joint forming operations and until the same are removed upon completion of the cycle of operation.

Provision is made in the mounting of the box retaining clips to adapt the same to so boxes of variable sizes, the means consisting of rods 34supported in brackets 35 on arms 32, and adjustable clip holders 36 supported on rods-34 and adapted to be shifted axially thereon as desired to suit the size of a box to be made on the machine.

The bases 31 are also 'adjustable,the same being adapted to beset at right angles to the position shown to adapt the same for supporting both units of the box-top and bottom portionswhich usually vary more or less in their corresponding d1mens1ons, provision being also made by the same arrangement to use bases 31 of different sizes interchangeably one with another.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the work head has four work supporting units of identical construction which, when the machine is at rest, occupy positions A, B, C and D respectively, the attendant serving the machine in position A and the direction of operation being counter-clockwise as indicated bythe arrow. In this position opposite, outwardly extended guides 37 are provided to position the box for height on the box supporting mechanisms 30 so that the folds for forming the' joints will be made uniform on all the boxes. To this end, arms 37 are formed concave, V- shaped as here shown, on th ir under side.

to receive the open, upw rd extended 9 flaps a of the end of the box and to retain the same in. vertical position until the first step of folding has been made. Arms 37 are supported on a bar 38 which is slotted as at 39 to permit of varying the spacing of l 5 the arms relative to each other to suit the width of the box for which the adjustment is made,--bar 38 being'in turn supported'by a block 40 adjustable vertically on a rod 41 secured in a plate 42 fixed to the head suprod 48 secured thereto,- the rod 48 being ed upwardly from each end of the box carr ing units acting upon rotation of t e work headsto engage the finger 47 and thus to rock arm 43 on its pivot center and to mbve arm 48 forward, in advance of the movement of the work head, into engagement with the adjacent end flap --a of the box at righ angles over the edge of base plate 31, spri g acting to retract arm 43 as lugs 49 pass out of engagement with finger 47.

' The opposite end flap a, upon rotation of the work lfead, is moved out of engagement with the other arm 37 and upon further advancement of the work head is brought into engagement with a circumferentially extended tubular rod 49 supportedoutwardly of the machine on brackets 50-51 in a plane and in a manner to effeet a corresponding fold of the opposite flap -a, both flaps --a being then retained in folded relation as the unit su porting the box moves to position B. rackets 50-51 are slotted as at 5253 and tubular rod is arranged telescopically with a second rod 49 to permit of adjusting the rods radially relative to the work head to suit variations in the sizeof-boxes.

5 consists of a container 54 of suitable capacity for liquid glue or any other adhesive. The container is provided in the bottom thereof wlth a series of ports each controlled by a spring-tensioned valve stem 55 for delivering a deposit of glue upon the folded flaps of the box. To this end, the mechanism has a vertical, reciprocal movement, the proecting ends of the valve stems being brought into contact with the folded end of the box inthe downward movement of the mechanism which causes the ports to be opened and a deposit of adhesive to be made from the end ofeach valve stem, the adhesive being thus more or less evenly distributed in measured amount over the flaps preliminary to forming the joints.

Position C of the machine as here shown is an idle position. The work as it is moved from position B passes out of engagement with rod 49 under asimilarly arranged rod 49 which is supported at its opposite end -in a slotted extension 53" of bracket 51, and

thence into an open space E in which the coacting end flap b is brought into enga ement with an arm 56 which acts to effect a fold. thereof at right-angles to and over flaps1a as the work head moves to position D,the folded end of the box passing under the pressure head 5 which u on the next stroke of the machine acts to ormthe joint by pressing the folded end portions ab firmly together.

I 7 Vertical reciprocal action is imparted simultaneously to the gluing and pressure mechanisms, as here shown, by eccentric connections 57-58 with shaft 6, the details of. the arrangement being of well known construction. To adapt the gluing mechanism to variations in size and in the character of the folds of the portions of the box to be glued together, the mechanism is supported adjustably on a rod' 59 secured in opposite arms 60 which provides for a range of adjustment to meet all normal variations of size and construction.

The detail Fig. 6 illustrates the manner of supporting the box folding arm 48 yielding-' ly by pivoting the arm at 62 in a bifurcated arm 61 secured to arm 66, arm 48 being retained in normal relation by a spring 63 engaging a pin 64,the provision being made as a safety feature to guard against injury to the hand of the operator if caught between arm 48 and block 31.

Fromthe foregoing detailed description and the illustrations of the drawings, the improved machine, as specifically defined and comprehended as to principle in the appended claims, will be readily understood by those experienced in the art to which our ,invention pertains.

I As best shown in detail Figs. 7 to 10, the

box forming blocks -31 are preferably provided with corrugations along op osite edges of the block, as shown at 71 in igs. 9 and 10, or with a pyramided surface, as shown at 67 in Figs. 7 and 8 which act in either constructionto effect an intermeshing of the coacting surfaces of the paper stock at the jointsas the same are formed. under pressure. This arrangement has the double advantage of effecting a positive intermeshing of the stock at relatively low pressure and j therefore with. less labor on the machine as the joints are formed, and also acts to prevent opening or spreading of the joints before the glue sets. The joints formed in this manner are also far superior to the ordinary flat-surface glued joint by reason of As bestshown in detail Fig. 8, a spring element is interposed between the forming block 31 and the supporting arm 32 to adapt the forming mechanism to variations in the thickness of the stock, and also to variations in the forming mechanism itself, and also to relieve the mechanism of excessive stress during the forming operation. The mechanism as here shown consists of springs 68,, arranged ad acent the corners of block 31,

and adjusting screws 69 which extend free through arm 32 and are threaded into block 31 thus providing for adjustment of the spring tension on the blocks, arm 32 being counterbored as at 70 to form a seat for the springs.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. A paper box making machine including in combination a rotatable work'head adapted to be moved successively into positions of rest and comprising a plurality of work supporting units, and means associated with each of said units in one of said positions to adjust the boxes for height as the same are placed on said work supporting units.

2. A paper box making machine including the combination a rotatable work head adapted to be moved successively'into positions of rest and comprising a plurality of work supporting units, and means associated with each of said units in one of said positions adapted to engage foldable portions of the boxes and to adjust the boxes for height as the same are placed on said work supporting units.

'3. A paper. box making machine including in combination a rotatable work head adapt-ed to be moved successively into positions of rest and comprising a plurality of work supporting units, and means associated with each of said units in one of said positions adapted to engage opposite, foldable flaps of the boxes whereby to position the boxes for folding as the same are placed on said work supporting units.

4. A paper box making machine including in combination a rotatable work head adapted to be moved successively into positions of rest and comprising a plurality of work supporting units, and means associated with each of said units in one oi said positions adapted to engage and align opposite foldable flaps of the boxes whereby to position the boxes for folding as the same are placed on said work supporting .units.

5. A paper box making machine including in combination a rotatable Work head adapted to be moved successively into positions of restand comprisin a plurality of work supporting units, an means consisting of members arranged oppositely one with the other and extended outwardly to engage opposite, extended flaps of the boxes ing in combination,

as the same are placed on said work sup porting units whereby to position the boxes thereon for folding.

work supporting units, and means consisting of members arranged oppositely one of the other, extended outwardly and shaped to engage and align opposite extended flaps of the boxes as the same are placed on said work supporting units whereby to position the boxes thereon for folding.

7. A paper box making machine including in combination, arotatable work' head adapted to be moved successively into positions of rest and comprising a plurality of work supporting units, and means associ ated with each of said units in one of said positions and actuated incident to the rotation of the work head to eflect a fold on a unit.

8. A paper box making machine includa rotatable work head adapted to be moved successively into positions of rest and comprising a plurality of work supporting units, and means associated witheach of said units in one of said positions and adapted to be actuated in advance of the movement of the work head to effect a told on a paper box positioned on a work supporting unit.

9. A paper box making machine including in combination, a rotatable work head adapted to be moved successively into positions of rest and comprising a plurality of work supporting units, and means consisting of a spring tensioned pivoted member associated with each off-said units in one of said positions, adapted to be. actuated incident to the rotation of the work head to-eflfect a fold on a paper box positioned a work supporting unit.

work head, associated with each of said units in one of said positions and adapted to be actuated in advance of the movement of the work head to efieot a fold on a paper .box positioned on a work supporting unit.

11. A paper box making machine including in combination, a rotatable work head adapted to be moved successively into positions of rest and comprising a plurality of work supporting units, and apivoted member adapted to be actuated positively in one direction and to be spring retracted in the opposite direction, associated with each of paper box positioned on. a work supporting i member operable in one direction coactively with each of said units in one of said positions to effect a fold upon a paper box sup-- ported thereon, and yieldable in the opposite direction to an obstruction interposed in the plane of its said first nameddirection of operation.

13. A paper box making machine including in combination, a rotatable work head adapted to be moved successively into positions of rest and comprising a plurality of work supporting units, means associated with each of said units in one of said posi- 'ing in combination, a rotatable work head adapted to be moved successively into positions of rest and comprising a plurality of wor supporting units, means associated with each of said units in one of said positions to effect an initial fold on a box positioned on a worksupporting unit, and means consisting of a member supported in a plane above and parallel to the plane of rotation of the work head, interposed between two positions of rest and acting to effect a second ,fold on said box.

15. A paper box making machine including in combination, a rotatable work head adapted to be moved successively into posi tions of rest and comprising a plurality of work supporting units, means associatedwith each of said units'in one of said positions to effect an initial fold on a box positioned on a work supporting unit, and means consisting of a member supported in a plane above and parallel-to the plane of rotation of the work head, interposed between two positions of rest, acting to efi'ect a second old of like character on the box'and to retain the folds in said relation by frictional contact therewith. v I

16., A paper box making machine includingfin combination, a rotatable work head adapted to be moved successively into positions of rest and comprising a plurality of work supporting units, means associated with each of said units in one of said positions to effect an initial fold on a box posi tioned on a work supporting unit, and means consistin of a member supported in a plane above an parallel to the plane of rotation of the work head, interposed betweentwo positions of rest in the path of the work supporting units, acting to effect a second fold on the box and to rgtain the folds in folded relation, and means to adjust said member relative to the work supporting units to suit the size of the boxes thereon.

17. A paper box making machine, including in combination a rotatable work head comprising a plurality of work supporting units, and adapted to be mo ved successively into positions of rest, means associated with each of said heads in one of said positions to effect an initial fold on a box positioned on a work supporting unit, means arranged along the path of rotation of the work supporting units to effect a second fold of like character on said box, and means arranged further along said path of rotation to effect a fold on said box to overlap said first folds.

18. A paper box' making machine, including in combination a rotatable work headcomprising a plurality ofwork supporting units, and adapted to be moved successively into positions .of rest, means associated with each of said heads in one of said positions 'to effect an initial fold on a box positioned comprising a plurality of work supporting units, and adapted to be moved successively into positions of rest, means associated with each of said heads in one of said positions to effect an initial fold on a box positioned on a work supporting unit, means arranged along the path of rotation of the work sup-' porting units to effect a second fold of like character on said box, and means consisting of a member supported above and further along said path of rotation and adapted to engage the paper box and effect a fold thereon overlapping said first folds.

to effect an initial fold on a box positioned on a work supporting unit, means arrangedalong the path of rotation of thework su porting units to efi'ect a second foldof li e character on said box, and means consisting of a rigid member supported above and further along said path of rotation and adapted to engage the paper box by frictional contact and to effect a fold thereon overlapping said first folds.

21. A paper box making machine including in combination, a rotatable work head comprising a plurality of work supporting units and adapted to be moved successively into ositions of rest, means in one of said positions to effect. a fold on a box positioned on one of said supporting heads, means arranged along the path of said supporting heads to eifect successive folds on said box,

one fold overlapping another, and meansin other of said positions of rest for applying adhesive to and for forming adhesive joints between said folded portions of the box.

22. A paper box making machine including in combination with gluing and joint forming mechanisms, a rotatable work head comprising a plurality of work supporting units, operating mechanism forthe work head comprising interlocking gearing acting to rotate the work head in a step-by-step movement and to bring the same suocessivee 1y into positions of rest with work supporting units in operative relation with said gluing and joint forming mechanism.

' nisms.

24. A paper box making machine including in combination with box supporting mechanism, gluing mechanism for supplying an adhesive to portions of the box for- 'formlng a joint, and mechanism for forming said joint, comprising a boxsupporting member havin projections on a surface thereof coming in contact with coactingportions of the joints whereby said portions are caused to intermesh one with another as said joints are formed under pressure.

'25. A paper box making machine including in combination with box supporting mechanism, gluing mechanism for supplying an adhesive to portions of the box for forming a joint, and mechanism for forming said joint, comprising a box supporting member having a corrugated surface coming in contact with coacting portions of the joints whereby said portions are caused to intermesh one with another as said .joints are formed under pressure.

26. A paper box making machine includ-' ing in combination with box supporting mechanism, gluing mechanism for supplying an adhesive to portions of the box for forming a joint, and mechanism for forming said joint, "comprising a box supporting member having. corrugations arranged along opposite edges thereof with an intervening non-corrugated surface therebetween, coming in contact with coacting portions of the joints whereby intermeshed adhesive joints along said corrugated edges and said adhesive joints between said edges are effected as said joints are formed under pressure.

- 27 A paper box making machine including in combination with box supporting mechanism, gluing mechanism for supplying an adhesive to portions of the box for forming a joint, and mechanism for form- 1ng sald oint under pressure comprising a pressure mechanism and a box supporting member, and a resilient element associated with one of said parts whereby to effect compensation for variations in the paper stock as said parts coact-one with the other as said joints are formed therebetween.

28. A paper box making machine including in combination with box supporting mechanism, gluing mechanism for supplying an adhesive to portions of the box for forming ajoint, and mechanism for forming said joint under pressure comprising pressure mechanism and a box supporting member, a spring element assoclated with one of said parts whereby to effect compensation for variations in the paper stock and in said mechanisms in their relatlon one to the other as said joints are formed therebetween, and

means to regulate the tension of said spring element.

In testimony whereof, we aflix our signatures. v p SAMUEL BERGSTEIN.

ALBERT ELLSWORTH DUVALL. 

